Impatiens plant named ‘IMGZ0018’

ABSTRACT

A new  Impatiens  plant named ‘IMGZ00018’ particularly distinguished by the bright red flower on medium peduncles on a medium sized well branched plant with deep dark green foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Impatiens interspecific.

Varietal denomination: ‘IMGZ0018’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Impatiens, botanically known as Impatiens interspecific, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘IMGZ0018’.

‘IMGZ0018’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar has large, flat flowers with a relatively bright red pattern. The foliage is very deep dark green with light green veins on the upper and lower side of the leaf. The plant is medium sized and well branched.

‘IMGZ0018’ originated from a hybridization made in August 2013 in a controlled breeding environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

The female parent is designated as ‘k08-1410-2V’ with red flower color. The male parent is designated as ‘W0418-11V’ and is large sized and has red flower pattern.

The resultant seed was sown in January 2014 in a greenhouse in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands and ‘IMGZ0018’ was selected there as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in summer 2013.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘IMGZ0018’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were propagated from the initial selection in April 2014 in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in July 2017 in Gilroy, Calif. USA, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘IMGZ0018’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘IMGZ0018’ has been observed under different environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity.

A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar has not yet been applied for. ‘IMGZ0018’ has not been made publicly available prior to the effective filing date of this application, notwithstanding any disclosure that may have been made less than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application by the inventor or another who obtained ‘IMGZ0018’ directly from the inventor.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes this Impatiens as a new and distinct variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical flower and foliage characteristics of ‘IMGZ0018’ with colors being as true as possible with an illustration of this type.

The photographic drawings show in FIG. 1 a close-up of the flowers and in

FIG. 2 a flowering plant of the new variety growing in 14 cm pot.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs were taken in May 2021 from plants grown in a greenhouse trial in Gilroy, Calif. USA. These plants were growing in 10 cm pots and were approximately 16 weeks of age.

The plant descriptions and measurements were taken in May 2021, on 16 week old plants growing in a greenhouse in Gilroy, Calif. USA. Cuttings were stuck in week 2 for rooting, planted into 10 cm pots in week 6, and were grown, without pinching, on benches in a greenhouse, initially at a day temperature of 18° C. and night temperature of 16° C. However, day temperatures often raised above 20° C.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (RHS) 2001.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY ‘IMGZ0018’ AND SIMILAR PATENTED VARIETIES ‘NG089’ ‘NG072’ (‘Sonic (‘Sonic ‘IMGZ0018’ Red’) Deep Red’) Flower color: Bright red Red Deep red Flower pattern: Not Sharp Very sharp Not sharp Habit/vigor: Medium Medium Small Branching: Better Less Less

-   Plant:     -   -   Form, growth and habit.—Medium sized, mounded, well             branched.         -   Plant height.—17.0 cm (without pot), 30 cm (with pot).         -   Plant height (inflorescence included).—21.0-23.0 cm (without             pot).         -   Plant width.—41.0 cm. -   Roots:     -   -   Number of days to initiate roots.—7 days at about 22 degrees             C.         -   Number of days to produce a rooted cutting.—15-18 days at 22             degrees C.         -   Type.—Fibrous, free branching.         -   Color.—RHS 159A. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Simple leaves, mainly in whorls.         -   Young leaf, color upper surface.—RHS 137A.         -   Young leaf, color lower surface.—Closest RHS 137C.         -   Mature leaf, color upper surface.—RHS 136A.         -   Mature leaf, color lower surface.—Closest to RHS 138A.         -   Length.—Up to 11.3 cm.         -   Width.—Up to 3.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Base shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex shape.—Acuminate.         -   Margin.—Serrulate, with short bristles.         -   Texture.—Slightly waxy and glossy on the upper surface,             glabrous on both surfaces.         -   Color of veins, upper surface.—RHS 138C.         -   Color of veins, lower surface.—RHS N34B.         -   Petiole color, upper side.—RHS 179C.         -   Petiole color, lower side.—RHS 179D.         -   Length.—Up to 2 cm.         -   Diameter.—0. 4 cm.         -   Texture.—Glabrous. -   Stem:     -   -   Color of stem.—RHS 184B.         -   Length of stem.—About 15.6 cm.         -   Diameter.—1 cm.         -   Length of internodes.—Approximately 2.2 to 4.3 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Number of branches.—8 main branches plus 15 side branches             per main branch.         -   Color of peduncle.—RHS 47A.         -   Length of peduncle.—6-6.5 cm.         -   Peduncle diameter.—0.3 cm.         -   Texture.—Glabrous. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit.—Continuous flowering from late spring             through fall.         -   Type of inflorescence.—Solitary flowers emerge from the             upper leaf nodes of the stem.         -   Number of flowers per node.—2-4 open flowers and additional             buds in various stages of development.         -   Quantity of flowers per plant.—20 open flowers plus 25 (big             and small) buds (10 cm pot plant in October).         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About 8-10             days.         -   Fragrance.—None. -   Bud (just before opening):     -   -   Color.—RHS 47B.         -   Length.—Up to 1.3 cm.         -   Width.—Up to 1 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate. -   Immature flowers:     -   -   Color of petals, upper surface.—RHS N34A.         -   Color of petals, lower surface.—RHS 45B. -   Mature flowers:     -   -   Flower, vertical length.—6.7 cm.         -   Flower, horizontal width.—6.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—1.2-1.5 cm.         -   Color of petals, upper surface.—RHS 45A.         -   Color of petals, lower surface.—RHS 46C.         -   Petal shape.—Heart shaped.         -   Petal apex shape.—Broadly obcordate.         -   Petal margin.—Entire.         -   Petal texture, upper surface.—Papillose.         -   Petal texture, lower surface.—Papillose. -   Calyx:     -   -   Arrangement.—One large sepal bearing the spur, 2 small,             lateral sepals, and 1 fused keel.         -   Large sepal(s).—         -   Color, visible surface.—RHS 50B.         -   Length.—1.7 cm.         -   Width.—1.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex shape.—Aristate.         -   Base.—Fused with the spur.         -   Margins.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Papillose.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Papillose.         -   Lateral sepals.—         -   Color of surface.—RHS 180B.         -   Length.—1.5 cm.         -   Width.—0.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex shape.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margins.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Glabrous.         -   Keel color.—From RHS 46C. -   Spur:     -   -   Color.—RHS 44B.         -   Length.—5-5.6 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm at the base, 0.1 cm at tip. -   Reproductive organs: -   Androecium: 5 stamen, fused with the anthers hooded.     -   -   Diameter of androeceum.—0.5 cm.         -   Surface color.—RHS 50A, fading towards margin.         -   Pollen amount.—FEW.         -   Color of pollen.—RHS 8D. -   Gynoecium:     -   -   Pistil.—One, elongate.         -   Pistil length.—0.7 cm.         -   Stigma color.—RHS 62D.         -   Ovary color.—RHS 148A TO 137C.         -   Fertility/seed set.—Has not been observed on this hybrid.         -   Disease/Pest resistance.—Has not been observed on this             hybrid. However, it is known for Impatiensl interspecific             that it is downy mildew resistant. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Impatiens interspecific plant named ‘IMGZ0018’ substantially as illustrated and described herein. 